SEAMUS HEANEY a biography by Heken Vendler

Where other books on the Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney have dwelt chiefly on the biographical, geographical, and political aspects of his writing, this book looks squarely and deeply at Heaney’s poetry as art. A reading of the poet’s development over the past thirty years, Seamus Heaney tells a story of poetic inventiveness, of ongoing experimentation in form and expression. It is an inspired and nuanced portrait of an Irish poet of public as well as private life, whose work has given voice to his troubled times.

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BASHŌ, The Complete Haiku

Translated by Jane Reichhold, 2008

Translater Jane Reichhold, spent more than ten years of work on her rendering of Basho: The Complete Haiku, 

The book includes all known poems by the haiku master. She provides commentary and background for all 1012 poems. Original sumi-e drawings by Shiro Tsujimura serve as introduction to each chapter

 

THE NARROW ROAD TO THE DEEP NORTH and other travel sketches

Translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa, 1966

The book contains five journals kept by Bashō during his walks about Japan. Both verse and poetic prose record his impressions. Influenced by Zen Buddhism, he sought the universal in the natural world through which he wandered; as well as some substance in the floating world he found. 

Revolt In The Desert

T. E. Lawrence, 1927

The book was begun in 1919 and completed in 1922. Written for himself and his friend, he had no intention of publishing. In 1926 he began a substantial abridgement of the original, and this he did publish.

The Seven Pillars Of Wisdom

T. E. Lawrence

Revolt in the Desert, the abridged version of this book was the only work published by Lawrence during his lifetime. The unabridged version, which became Seven Pillars, was published posthumously in 1935.

One Robe, One Bowl, Zen Poetry of Ryokan

John Stevens, translator, 1977

Ryōkan, a reclusive 18th century Japanese Zen monk, wrote poetry that captured the essence of wabi-sabi. This aesthetic emphasizes the appreciation of beauty in nature that is imperfect and transient. His elegantly sparse poems convey solicitude and compassion for the miasma that so often afflicts humanity. Internet Archive

The book is available at the Internet Archive.